Mail-distributing machine.



B. S. MOLYNEUX.

MAIL DISTRIBUTING MACHINE. APPUCATION FILED APR. 2, 189B. RENEWED SEPT. 25. 19H.

Patented Feb. 1, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET I.

B. S. MOLYNEUX.

MAIL DISTRIBUTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION men "n.2, was. RENEWED SEPT.25. um.

Pabentad Feb. 1, 1916.

s suns-swan 2 B. S. MOLYNEUX.

MAIL DISTRIBUTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR-2. I89B- RENEWED SPT.25. 1911.

1,170,091. Patented Feb. 1, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

B. S. MOLYNEUX.

MML DISTRIBUTING MACHINE. APPucAhoN FILED "n.2, I898. RENEWED ssrnzs. 19H.

e 6. ,MW lhvenlvl.

B. S. MOLYNEUX.

MAIL DISTRIBUTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED n.2, I898. nanzwznssrnzs. 19H.

1,170,091. Patenfd Feb. 1, 191

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5- LLHIIIIII I IIIIIIII Hi-brag J,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BARTON S. MOLYNEUX, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO CHRISTOPHER H. BIERIBAUM, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

MAIL-DISTRIBUTING MACHINE.

Application filed April 2, 1898, Serial No. 676,177.

To all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that I, BARTON S. MOLYNEUX,

(a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new-and usefultributing machine embodies mainly a moving carrier or conveyer containing holders which receive the mail matter singly and successively and which are provided with means controlled by the operator whereby each holder is prepared for releasing the piece of mail matter which it carries when it has reached the entrance of the receptacle to which such particular piece of mail matter is to be delivered. The machine is also provided with a canceling mechanism so that the mail matter is canceled in passing through the machine, but this is less important as the mail matter may be canceled by a separate machine or by hand.

In the accompanying drawings consisting of five sheets :Figure 1 is a side elevation of my letter canceling and distributing machine. Fig; 2 is asectional elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the upper portion of the 7 machine, the section being taken through the longitudinal center of the machine. Fig. 3 is a transverse section in line 33, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section of the letter feeding devices, on an enlarged scale, showing the parts in an operative position. Fig. 5 is a vertical section in line 5-5, Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a vertical section of one of the pneumatic separators. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary front elevation of the machine on the same scale as Fig: 2. Fig. 8 is a vertical transverse section in line 8-8,

Fig. 2. Fig. 9 is a fragmentary horizontal section in line 9-9, Fig. 7. Fig. 10 is a vertical section, on an enlarged scale, f the valve whereby the operation of the pneumatic separator is controlled. Fig. 11 is a vertical section, on an enlarged scale, of the Specification. ofLetters Patent.

Patented Feb. 1, 1916.

Renewed September 25,1911. Serial No. 651,295.

air pump. Fig. 12 is a fragmentary longitudinal section in line 1212, Fig. 8. Fig. 13 is a fragmentary horizontal section in line 1313, Fig. 2. Fig. 14 is a fragmentary horizontal section in line 11-14, Fig. 7. Fig. 15 is a horizontal section in line 15-15, Flg. 7. Fig. 16 is a top plan view of one of the pigeon hole or receptacle sections. Fig. 17 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the construction of such key levers which are designed to throw the canceling mechanism out of operation and to intercept letters which have been erroneously distributed without operating the letter separating and carrying mechanism. Fig. 18 is a fragmentary sectional elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the clutch mechanism whereby the letter carrier is intermittently coupled with and uncoupled from the driving mechanism. Fig. 19 is a fragmentary vertical section in line 1919, Fig. 18. Fig. 20 is a fragmentary sectional top plan view of the carrier, when in its receiving position. Fig. 21 is a transverse section in line 2121, Fig. 20.

Fig. 22 is .a fragmentary longitudinal section of the receiving portion of the carrier taken in line 22-22, Fig. 20. Fig. 23 is a similar view of the delivery portion of the carrier.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

The main frame of the machine consists of a rectangular base A, two pairs of columns A A arranged respectively on the front and rear ends of the base, a rectangular supporting rail or plate A mounted upon the upper ends of the columns, apair 0 front standards A A arranged on opposite' sides of the front portion of the rail and a pair of rear standards A Al arranged on opposite sides of the rear portion of the supporting rail.

B represents the feed table, holder or support upon which the supply or pile of letters is placed and from which the letters are separated and fed successively to the cancel- 'ing1 and distributing mechanlsm. This feed e is arranged horizontally andmounted withits front and rear ends respectively on the front and rear standards. The letters are placed one behind the other with their address sides facing forwardly and with their lower edges resting upon the table. The tableis provided on one side with a longitudinal guide B against which the letters are placed with one end resting thereagainst and whereby the letters are guided as they are carried from the rear end toward the front end of the table. As the letters are fed off from the front end of the pile the latter is moved lengthwise over the table by means of a follower b which bears against the rear side of the pile, as shown in Fig. 1. This follower is secured to an arm 6' arranged on a sleeve 6 which slides lengthwise on a horizontal rod N. This rod is arranged outside of the guide board B and is supported at its front end by an arch b arranged on the front portion of the feed table and a supporting arm 6 arranged on the rear portion of the feed table. The follower is constantly pressed forward by means of a spring I) which surrounds the guide rod and bears with one end against the supporting sleeve 6 and with its opposite end against a collar b which is adjustably secured to the guide rod by a thumb screw. Preparatory to placing the letters upon the feed table the follower is moved rearwardly, thereby straining the spring, whereby upon engaging the follower with the rear side of the pile the pressure of the spring will be very strong when the pile is large and as the follower moves forward owing to the reduction in the number of letters in the pile the spring gradually grows weaker so that by this means the tension of the spring is automatically adjusted to the load or pile of letters.

In order to inform the attendant or operator when the supply of letters has nearly exhausted a signaling device is provided which is constructed as follows :C, Fig. 1, represents a supporting bracket mounted on the guide rod 6 and provided with two insulated contacts 0 c which are arranged in an electric circuit which includes an electric bell c and a generator 0 These contacts are normally separated so that the circuit is open and the bell will not ring when a considerable supply of letters is resting upon the feed table but when the supply of letters has been reduced to such an extent as to require replenishing a presser finger mounted upon the supporting sleeve b presses one of the contacts against the other contact, thereby closing the circuit and informing the operator that the supply of letters isnearly exhausted. The bracket supporting the contacts 0 0 is capable of longitudinal adjustment on the guide rod b so that the point at which the signal for replenishing is given may be varied. In order to facilitate the movement of the follower over the feed table the follower is provided on its rear side with a supporting roller 6 which rolls over the feed table and holds the follower out of contact with the table.

The front of the pile of letters is pressed against an abutment which consists essentially of two vertical glass plates D D which engage with opposite ends of the front side of the letters and which are separated by an intervening space through which the letter separating mechanism has access to the letters, as represented in Figs. 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, and 14. Each section of the abutment is arranged in a vertically slotted post (I mounted on the adjacent standard and the upper portions of both abutment plates are adjustably secured to a supporting bar cl which connects the post (i by clamping screws d passing through the plates and longitudinal slots in the supporting bar. By making the abutment plates of glass it permits the operator to obtain an unobstructed view of the entire front side or face of the letter for the purpose of reading the address and also to observe whether the same has the proper postage attached thereto. By adjusting the abutment plates toward or from each oth on the supporting bar (l the space between these plates can be regulated to suit the character or size of the letters which are being operated upon.

(i are detaining arms secured to the front standards and bearing against the lower portion in the front side of the abutment plates, thereby preventing the same from being broken by the pressure of the pile.

The abutment plates are separated from the front end of the feed table so as to form an intervening space or throat between the abutment and the table, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, through which the letters. are fed downwardly from the front of the-pile and between two constantly rotating fee rollers E E which latter carry the letters from the pile and deliver the same to the canceling and distributing mechanism. The front roller E is journaled in fixed bearings 6 arranged on the front standards. The rear roller E is journaled in bearings c which are ca able of moving lengthwise in slots in said standards, as shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 5, and which are constantly pressed forward by springs e for holding the rollers yieldingly in contact with each other.

E represents a, constantly rotating driving wheel which is journaled transversely on one side of the main frame and which is driven by any suitable motor. Motion is transmitted from the driving wheel to the front feed roller by a belt 6 passing around a. small pulley 6 formed on the hub of the driving wheel and around one of the grooves in a large pulley E and a twist belt 6 passing around another groove in the large pulley E and around a pulley e on the outer end of the shaft which carries the front feed roller.

F, Figs. 2, 4, 5, 8 and 14, represents a retarding bar whereby more than one letter is prevented from. passing through the throat to the feed rollers. This retarding bar is arranged lengthwise between the front end of the feed table and the rear roller E and is journaled with its ends in upward exten-,

sions of the bearings 6 so as to move back and forth therewith. The retarding bar is provided along its front longitudinal edge with a strip of rubber f and is normally held with its front portion in an elevated position by means of a spring f surrounding the contracted end portion of the bar and bearing with one end against the bar while its opposite end bears against the adjacent bearing, as shown in Fig. 14. As the foremost letter of the pile is carried down positively by the separating mechanism the retarding bar is deflected downwardly and moves slightly rearward together with the rear feed roller, but the rubber facing of the retarding bar presses against the rear side of the letter which is being fed and prevents the next following letters from passing through the throat with the foremost letter, as represented in Fig. 4, thereby always insuring the feeding of one letter at a time from the pile.

successively separated from the pile and carried downwardly between the feed rollers may be constructed in various ways. that shown in the drawings being constructed as follows :-G G represent two hollow suction or exhaust arms which are provided at their lower ends with rearwardly projecting suction cups 9 g. These arms are arranged in front of the space between the abutment plates and are capable of a backwardly and forwardly swinging movement for carrying their cups toward and from the front of the pile and also of a downward and upward movement toward and from the feed rollers. Each of the exhaust arms is provided at its upper end with a hollow hub g which is mounted on a hollow transverse rock shaft g which latter is provided with an opening 9 whereby communication is established between said shaft and the interior of the exhaust arm. The exhaust arm is preferably adjustably secured to the exhaust shaft by means of clamping nuts 9* arranged upon the externally screw threaded ends of the hubs which latter are split lengthwise so that upon tightening the nuts the ends of the hub are tightened on the exhaust shaft, as shown in Figs. 7 8 and 9. The hollow exhaust shaft is journaied in bearings arranged at the front end of a horizontal rock arm g which latter is pivoted ,at its rear end by means of a transverse bolt g to a bracket so that the front end of the supporting arm can be raised and lowered together with the parts mounted thereon. The horizontal rock arm 9" is yieldingly held in an elevated position by means of a spring 9 connecting the same with the bracket 9 e The mechanism whereby the letters are H represents a vertically movable shifting rod which slides in guides h on the bracket 9 and which is provided at its lower end with a gear rack h meshing with a gear segment k which is secured to the exhaust shaft between its bearings g.

During the downward movement of the shifting rod the latter first turns the gear segment, the exhaust shaft and the exhaust arms until the suction cups are moved rearwardly into engagement with the foremost letter, after which the shifting rod during the remaining portion of its downward movement carries the horizontal rock arm 9 and the suction devices mounted thereon, downwardly together with the letter which has been drawn by suction against the cups, thereby carrying this letter downwardly between the rollers. The rearwardly turning movement of the exhaust shaft and connecting parts is preferably limited by a shoulder it arranged on the shifting rod and engaging with a shoulder or cross piece [i on the horizontal rock arm 9. as shown in Fig. 4. During the first portion of the upward movement of the shifting rod the rock shaft is first turned for swinging the suction arms away from the pile after which the supporting rock arms 9 and connecting parts move upwardly with the shifting rod. The spring g is of such strength that it merely serves to balance the weight of the rock arm 9 and the parts mounted thereon and is not strong enough to lift this arm and connecting parts quickly. The downward movement of the shifting rod produced by a. pair of solenoid electromagnets 2' i which are mounted on the bracket g and which have their vertically moving armatures connected byacross piece i with the upper end of the shifting rod H. These magnets are arranged in circuit with an electric generator J and two contacts j j and upon connecting these contacts the circuit is completed through the magnets i i and the latter draw the shifting bar H and connecting parts downwardly. Upon disconnecting the contacts j j" the circuit through the magnets 21 i is broken and the shifting rod and connecting parts are raised by a spring i surrounding the shifting rod and bearing with its lower end against the bracket 9 while its upper end bears against a collar 1? on the shifting rod. The last portion of the upward movement of the shifting rod is preferably cushioned by in tel-posing a rubber spring i between the collar i and the upper guide it of the rod.

1': represents a catch whereby the rock arm g is prevented from descending until the exhaust arms have been turned sutliciently to bring the suction cups into engagement with the foremost letter of the pile. This catch is pivoted to the lower portion of the bracket 9 so as to turn in a vertical plane and is provided with a depending arm la having an upwardly facing shoulder [a and y a rearwardly projecting arm which receives a stop screw [0 pccured to the bracket, as represented in Figs. 2 and 4. The shoulder k of the catch is yieldingly held in engagement with a shoulder or cross piece 76 on the supporting arm 9 in the elevated position of the latter by means of a spring is interposed between the bracket 9' and the rear arm of the catch.

k is a releasing finger arranged on the exhaust shaft 9 in front of the catch and preferably formed integrally with the gear segment. During the last portion of the rearwardly turning movement of the suction arm the releasing finger k engages with the depending arm of the catch is and disengages its shoulder from that of the supporting arm g thereby permitting the subsequent portion of the downward movement of the sliding rod H to carry the separating devices downwardly. The lower portion of the depending arm of the catch is provided with an incline which leads to the shoulder thereof. During the upward movement of the supporting arm its cross piece is engages with the incline of the catch and defiects the same rearwardly until the cross piece is above the shoulder of the catch, when the shoulder of the catch is carried forwardly by the spring is and engages with the underside of said cross iece. The bracket 9 is capable of longitu inal adjustment on the arch b by means of a bolt is passing through a longitudinal slot in the bracket so that the latter separating mechanism may be adjusted with reference to a the pile. During the time that the suction cups are in contact with the foremost letter the air is exhausted therefrom so that the foremost letter is drawn firmly against the suction cups and compelled to move downwardly with these cups after which the suction or partial vacuum in the cups and connecting passages is removed so as to permit the suction cups to disengage themselves from the letter and enable the feed rollers to complete the separation of the letter from the pile.

The mechanism whereby the air is intermittently exhausted from the suction cups is constructed as follows :L Figs. 7 8 and 10 represents a valve case provided in its side with an inlet port I, an outlet port Z arranged above the inlet port and a vent port Z arranged below the inlet port. The inlet port is connected by a flexibletube Z with the exhaust rock shaft 9' and the outlet Z is connected by apipe Z with the suction of an air pump L. L represents a valve piston arranged in the valve case L and provided in its side with a recess. 1 This piston is adiustably connected with the cross piece z" which connects the armatures as shown in Figs. 7 and 11.

of the magnets 71 i and the shifting rod H. In the highest position of the shifting rod H the inlet port Z is closed by the lower portion of the valve piston L as shown in Fig. 10, in which position of the parts the suction cups are retracted from the pile and the suction through the same is cut off. When the shifting rod has moved downward sufficiently to bring the suction cups into engagement with the foremost letter of the pile the lower end of the recess in the valve piston uncovers the inlet port, thereby connecting the same with the outlet port of the valve case, whereby the suction of the pump exhausts the air from the suction cups and draws the letter firmly against the same. The recess 1 is of such length that the inlet and outlet ports of the valve case remain connected and the suction of the cups continues until the cups have been moved downwardly by the shifting'rod almost to their lowest point. When the suction cups have nearly reached their lowest position the valve piston has been moved downwardly so that the upper portion thereof closes the outlet port l whereby the suction of the pump is cut off. The next instant the end of the downward movement of the cups is reached in which position the lower end of the recess of the valve piston communicates with the vent port 1 thereby permitting the external air to enter the suction cups and destroy the vacuum for releasing the letter. During the upward movement of the valve piston together with the shifting rod H the recess in the piston again connects the inlet and outlet ports of the valve case so that a suction is produced in the cups, but during thistime the cups are withdrawn from the front of the pile so that this suction is ineffective. The air pump whereby the airis exhausted from the suction-cups 'may be of any suitable construction, that shown in the drawings consisting of 2. cylinder m connected by a T-coupling with the pipe Z and rovided with an inwardly opening ball va ve m, a plunger m reciprocating in the cylinder and provided with an outwardly opening ball valve m and a pitman m connecting the plunger with a crank pin m on the constantly rotating wheel E As the air pump is working all the time the exhausting operation continues during almost the whole time that the suction cups are in contact with the foremost letter of the pile and in order to prevent the letter from being drawn against the cups with too great a force the inlet or suction of the pump is connected by a pipe m with an equalizing or governing chamber at which latter has an automatic inwardly opening valve m After the letter has been drawn against the suction cups and the latter are closed the pump draws from the equalizing chamber as well as from the suction cups and when the suction exceeds a predetermined limit the valve m in the equalizing chamber opens and permits the air to enter at this point thereby preventing an excessive suction on the letter. The valve m3 is preferably field against its seat by a spring m which bears against a screw nut m arranged on the stem of the valve, as shown in Fig. 2. By adjusting the screw nut on the stem of the valve the tension of the spring of the valve may be regulated for varying the vacuum produced by the air pump as may be necessary to effect the required suction of the cups.

N represents an endless carrier or con veycr which receives the letters as they are fed off from the pile and which carries them to the canceling mechanism and the seve 'al receptacles into which the letters are distributed according to their destination. The carrier shown in the drawing consists of two link or chain belts n, n, the corresponding links of both belts being connected in pairs by cross bars a. The receiving portions of the belts pass upwardly around two sprocket wheels 12. mounted on a transverse shaft o which is journaled transversely in the front standards below the feed rollers and pass thence horizontally rearward and downwardly around two sprocket wheels a mounted on a transverse shaft a which is journaled in hearings on the rear standards and thence passes with its delivery portion horizontally forward to the place of beginning. Each pair of links or chains is pivotally connected with the next pair by means of a tubular bearing or sleeve In" which extends from one chain to the other and in each of these tubular be'arings an axle or spindle n is journaled which is provided at opposite ends outside of the links with supporting rollers a n. as shown in l igs. l. R, l2. 13, 20. 21 and The rollers on the upper or receiving portion of the carrier run upon two tracks at ar ranged. adjacent to the carrier and the roll ers on the lower or delivery portion of the carrier run upon a similar pair of tracks 27 arranged adjacent to the lower portion of the carrier. The rollers a on one side of the carrier are provided with plain cylin' drivel faces while the rollers it" upon the other side of the carrier are provided with peripheralflanges a which overhang opposite sides of the tracks over which they run. thereby confining the carrier against lateral displacement. An intermittent movement is imparted to this carrier in the di rection of the arrow Fig. l, by the following mechanism: 0 0 Figs. 1, 2, 1:2. 18, and 19 represent two sections of an iron shaft which are arranged axially in line and in rear of the shaft n upon which the front sprocket wheels of the carrier are mounted. The shaft section 0 is journaled in a hearing a in the front standard A and is reta'ted continuously by the pulley E which is mounted on the outer end thereof. The other shaft section 0' is provided with a gear pinion 0 which meshes with a gear wheel 0* arranged upon the adjacent end of the front sprocket wheel shaft n, as shown in Fig. 1. The relative speed of the pinion and wheel a and n is siX turns of the gear pinion to one turn of the large gear wheel 0* and one turn of the gear inion or one sixth turn of the ear wheel as the effect of moving the carrier forward the extent of one space or one link. The opposing ends of the shaft sections 0 O are inclosed by a brass sleeve 0 which is secured to the shaft section O by a pin 0 or otherwise and which turns in a bearing 0" in the other front standard A. 0 0 represent two friction or clutch disks which are arranged upon the shaft section 0 and supporting sleeve 0 respectively, and which are adapted to be engaged or disengaged for coupling or uncoupling the shaft sections 0 O by shifting these shaft sections and connecting parts lengthwise with reference to each other, this movement being permitted by allowing sufiicient play in the bearings of one or both of these shafts. The contact or clutch surfaces of the disks 0 0 are preferably made conical as shown at 0 so as to increase the grip of the same. 0 represents an electromagnet coil which is mounted upon the brass sleeve 0 so as to surround the adjacent ends of both shaft sections 0 O and which is secured to the adjacent standard by any suitable means'so as to be held against turning. This coil is included in an electric circuit containing the generator J and two contacts 0 0 as shown in Figs. 1 and 18. Upon connecting these contacts the coil 0 becomes energized and the shaft sections are drawn toward each other thereby drawing the friction or clutch disks 0 0 together and causing the shaft section 0' to turn with the continuously rotating shaft section 0. Upon disconnecting the contacts o o the electric circuit through the coil 0 is broken, thereby destroying the at traction between the shaft sections 0 O and causing the clutch disk 0 to be disengaged from the clutch disk 0 whereby the rotation of the shaft section 0 is arrested while the shaft section 0 continues to rotate.

The contacts 0 0 are connected and disconnected by a knife switch 0 which is secured to a vertically movable armature p. This armature is guided in a bracket 12' on the adjacent portion of the frame and is normally raised for disconnecting the contacts 0 0 by means of a spring p bearing against shoulders on the bracket and the armature.

P represents an electro-magnet which is adapted to attract the armature p and draw the same downwardly so that the knife switch 0 mounted thereon connects the contacts 0 0 and thereby couples the shaft sections 0 O for moving the letter carrier. The electromagnet P is arranged in an electric circuit which includes the generator J and the contacts 7' j, as shown in Fig. 1. Upon connecting the contacts j j the magnet P attracts the armature p and closes the electric circuit through the clutch coil 0 while upon disconnecting the contacts j j the magnet P releases the armature p and permits the spring p to raise the same for breaking the electrlc circuit of the clutch coil 0. In the operation of the machlne it is necessary that the carrier moves forward one complete step or space at a time, in order to maintain the proper register o'f the carrier with the letter separating devices. For this purpose the upper end of the armature is arranged below the outer end of the intermittently rotating shaft section 0 and the latter is provided with a cam wheel p which engages with the armature. This cam wheel is provided with a radial shoulder 12 which engages with a shoulder p on the armature, an outwardly throwing cam or eccentric face 30 extending from the inner end of the shoulder on the cam wheel and a concentric face 39 extending from the outer end of the eccentric face to the outer end of the shoulder on the cam wheel, as represented in Fig. 19. Upon connecting the contacts j j the electromagnet P attracts the armature p for connecting the contacts 0 0 of the coil 0 and this movement of the armature is suflicient to disengage its shoulder from that of the cam wheel p thereby liberating the intermittently rotating shaft section and permitting the same to turn with the continuously rotating shaft section 0. The cam wheel turns in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 19, the instant the armature is depressed and carries the concentric portion of its face over the armature and holds the latter in a depressed position until the shaft 0 has made one complete revolution during the last portion of which movement the cam wheel presents its cam surface to the armature and permits the latter to rise and engage its shoulder with that of the cam wheel so as to arrest the movement of the shaft section 0' and the parts connected therewith. It will thus be seen that the circuit of the clutch coil is primarily closed by connecting the contacts 7' 7" but that the clutch circult is positively held closed by mechanical means until the carrier has moved forward one space, thereb permitting of a variation in the duration 0 the connection between the contacts j 7" without effecting the time which the clutch circuitis closed.

The devices whereby the letters are held or confined on the carrier and discharged therefrom are constructed as follows :The rear or advancing side of each of the cross bars n of the carrier forms a jaw 9 which together with a clamping plate or jaw 9 arranged in front of the bar forms a gripper or clamp which is adapted to receive the letters from the separating mechanism and hold the latter while the same is being carried past the canceller and until the letter reaches the proper point on the delivery side of the carrier. This clamping plate is secured to a rock spindle g which is pivoted transversely on the corresponding pair of links and is yieldingly held against the jaw g of the opposing bar by a spring One end of each clamping spindle is provided with an armature 1- whereby the spindle is turned in the direction for moving the clamping plate away from its opposing bar and opening the gripper for receiving a letter and for subsequently discharging the letter. This opening of the gripper for receivinga letter takes place preferably at the beginning or front end of the upper or receiving horizontal portion of the carrier and is effected by a stationary roller or projection 7" which is secured to the adjacent portion of the front standard, as shown in Figs. 7 and 12. As the gripper approaches the receiving point its armature rides over the roller 1" and is lifted, thereby turning the rock spindle and the clamping plate attached thereto so that the gripper is open and after the letter has been deposited in the gripper its armature drops off from the other side of said roller and permits its spring to close the gripper. The letters are conducted from the feed rollers into the open gripper by two downwardly converging guide plates 7' 1' arranged in front and in rear of the rollers. The front plate 1* extends from the front roller downwardly to within a short distance of the gripper and is made of glass or other transparent material so as to permit of observing the letter from the front of the machine when the letter is in the gripper. The rear guide plate r extends downwardly from the rear roller only a short distance in order to permit the letter to clear the same as the latter is carried rearwardlyby the gripper. The lower portion of each cross bar n is provided with a ledge or shoulder 1- which projects toward the opposing gripper plate and serves as a stop which arrests the downward movement of the letter as the same is deposited in the gripper. The letters stand upright while being carried rearwardly on the receiving portion of the carrier, but when they are moving forwardly on the lower or delivery portion of the carrier the letters hang vertically downward.

S represents a number of electromagnets whereby the grippers are opened on the lower or delivery side of the carrier when the letters held by the grippers have reached the position or point where they should be discharged from the carrier so as to be directed into receptacles provided to receive them. These magnets are arranged in a longitudinal row with their poles below the path of the armatures of the grippers as the latter pass forwardly on the delivery side of the carrier and upon energizing one of these magnets when an armature is arranged above the same the armature will be drawn downwardly and the gripper will be opened, thereby releasing the letter held by the gripper and permitting the same to drop vertically into the receptacle arranged below the letter.

The inlets of the receptacles into which the letters are delivered are arranged in a longitudinal row below the delivery portion of the carrier and the location of these inlets is such that when the carrier comes to rest at the end of each intermittent forward movement the grippers on the delivery side of the carrier will be directly above the inlets of the letter receptacles so that the opening of any one of the grippers on the delivery side of the carrier will release the respective letter and cause the latter to drop into the receptacle below the same.

Each of the grippers is opened when it arrives over the particular receptacle into which the letter carried by the same should be deposited by the following selecting mechanism: One end of the coil of each gripper magnet is connected by a wire t with one pole of the electric generator J and the other pole of the generator is connected by a Wire 23' with the metallic portion of the machine, as shown in Fig. 1. Each of the gripper magnets has the opposite end of its coil connected by a wire t with an insulated contact 25 which is arranged above the path of the lower or delivery portion of the carrier. The contacts 6 of the several magnets are arranged in groups, the contacts of each group being arranged in an oblique line and each of the contacts 25* being arranged transversely out of line with every other contact 25 so that no two contacts are in the same longitudinal line of the machine. Each of these carrier contacts t is adapted to be engaged by a controlling devil or selecting contact U on the carrier when the gripper which its magnet is intended to open is over the proper receptacle and this carrier contact forms the terminal of the pole of the battery J which is connected with the metallic portion of the machine, thereby completing the circuit through the respective magnet and energizing the same, whereby the gripper is opened and the letter is discharged into the receptacle. Each of the receptacles is provided with a gripper opening magnet and a stationary contact t which is engaged by a contact U on the carrier when a gripper having a letter intended for that box stands over the latter. A number of carrier or selecting contacts U are arranged in a row lengthwise of each of the cross bars at so that the several rows of contacts move lengthwise of the machine. Each of the contacts has the form of a staple, one leg at of which is longer than the other leg at, as represented in Figs. 21, 22, and 23. The legs of each contact slide in a pair of guide openings or ways a which are formed in the cross bar n one behind the other and at right angles to the line of movement of the carrier. The bight or bent portion of the staple is arranged on the outer side of the cross bar and upon shoving this staple inwardly the long leg thereof projects beyond the inner side of the cross bar and into the path of one of the stationary contacts f as it passes forwardly along the lower portion of the carrier. A contact U is provided in each cross bar for engagement with the stationary contact of each of the receptacles. The contacts U of the several carrier cross bars which are intended to open the gripper of a certain receptacle are all arranged in a longitudinal line and only the contacts U in that particular line are capable of engaging with the stationary contact 6 of that particular receptacle. reparatory to placing the carrier contacts U in the cross bar the legs thereof are sprung apart which causes them to be strained when they are inserted into the guide ways of the cross bar and to bear against the guide ways with sufficient friction to hold the contacts in posi- 00 tion.

After the operator has read the address of the foremost letter in the pile he depresses that contact U in one of the cross bars of the carrier which controls the gripper opening 1o device of the particular receptacle into which the letter should be delivered; This contact is preferably arranged in the cross bar preceding the gripper which receives the letter from the feel rollers by which ar- 110 rangement the contact can be depressed and the gripper can move forwardly into the proper position for receiving the letter while the latter is being fed from the pile and directed into the gripper. At the time that 5 one of the sliding :arrier contacts U is depressed the particular cross bar carrying the same is arranged at the horizontal front end of the receiving portion of the carrier and the entire row of contacts of said bar is 120 arranged below the rear or free ends of a transverse row of shifting levers V. These shifting levers are p'.voted at their front ends to a cross piece a which connects the front standards A A, one of these levers 125 being arranged so as to be capable of depressing a definite contact in the row of each bar n. The. contacts U of the several cross bars which are controlled b each key lever are all in the same longitudinal line and are adapted to engage only with the gripper contact i corresponding with a certain receptacle. Each of the shifting levers is actuated by a manually operated element such as a key lever '21 arranged below the same and connected therewith by an upright rod 0 Each shifting lever and connecting parts are held in an elevated position by means of a spring a surrounding the connecting rod and bearing against a shoulder on said rod and a cross piece r connecting the front standards. The key levers are pivoted at their rear ends to a key board frame V which is secured to the front columns and they are depressed at their front ends by means of finger pieces or keys 1:. These keys are provided with depending stems e which are guided in a key board V and which bear loosely with their lower ends upon the front ends of the key levers. The keys are each held in an elevated position by means of a spring a surrounding the stem of the key and bearing with its ends against the top of the key board and a shoulder on the key, the upward movement of the key being limited by a shoulder arranged on the stem of the key and adapted to bear against the underside of the key board. After each gripper has discharged its letter into a. receptacle the carrier contact U controlling the opening of the sameis again shifted outwardly in the respective cross bar 71. by one of a number of returning bars or rods n which connect the front sprocket wheels. As the carrier passes upwardly around these sprocket wheels the returning bars engage successively with the inwardly projecting contacts U in the cross bars and restore them to the normal outer position into line with the other contacts in the respective bars preparatory to passing under the shifting levers.

XV represents a universal bar which extends transversely underneath the key levers and which is mounted on the front ends of two rock arms w 'w pivoted to the key board frame. This universal bar and its supporting arms are yieldingly held in an elevated position by means of a spring w surrounding the pivot of the arms and bearing with its ends against a stationary part of the frame and one of the arms w. The electric contacts j j are secured by an insulating fastening to the lower portion of the key board frame and the universal bar or one of its arms is provided with a metallic knife switch 10 which engages with both of the contacts 7' 7" upon depressing the universal bar by one of the key levers, thereby closing the circuits of which the contacts j 7" form the terminals, at this point. p

The rearmost receptacle is preferably reserved for such letters as may require special attention or rehandling on the part of the operator, for instance letters having imperfect addresses, deficient postage or letters which the operator has erroneously distributed by depressing the wrong key. This receptacle is known in the postal service as the nixie box. When the operator detects a letter on the front of the pile which is imperfect he depresses the key marked 0 in the top row of keys, which key by the intermediate mechanism depresses the sliding contact U which will cause the gripper receiving this erroneous letter to be opened when it arrives over the nixie box, by engaging with the rearmost contact 15 included in the circuit of the respective magnet. For the purpose of enabling the operator to send a letter into the nixie box after the letter has been delivered into the gripper an additional key marked 1 on the uppermost row of the key board is provided upon depressing which another sliding contact U in the next following crossbar is depressed which contact engages with an auxiliary contact if, as shown in Figs. 2 and 13. This auxiliary contact is arranged in the same circuit with the rearmost contact 15 and magnet i of the nixie box but one step in advance of the real-most contact 15 so that when'the erroneous letter arrives over the nixie box it will be dropped into the same. The igeon holes, receptacles or boxes into which the letters are delivered are preferably arranged in sections each section containing a vertical row of boxes X, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 16. Each of the boxes in a section overhangs the box next below the same and is provided with a chute or passage as" which opens into the upper end of the box adjacent to one of the walls, thereof, and extends upwardly to a point underneath the place where the letter is discharged into the same. Each of the lower boxes of the section has its chute extending along the side of the box and chute next above the same. The inlet chute of the uppermost box in each section is inclined and flares upwardly its full length while each chute of the lower boxes has its upper portion correspondingly inclined and flared but its lower portion is of uniform width and arranged vertically. In order to deliver the letters flatwise into the boxes each of the boxes is provided at its inlet with a downwardly curved deflecting plate .23 against which the letter as it issues from the chute is adapted to strike with its lower edge and whereby the letter is directed with its advancing edge against the opposite upright wall X of the box and drops in a substantially horizontal position in the box. In order to prevent the letter from being caught in the chute as it is deflected by the deflector the adjacent corner of the next' higher box is rounded off as shown at to,

thereby permitting the letter to pass freely around this corner. The upright wall X of each box is inclined toward the deflecting suming a perfectly vertical position when resting flatwise against the same thereby tipping the letters which are delivered against the same over into a horizontal osition upon the pile in the box. .The ront sides of the boxes and the chutes leading to the same are open so as to afford free access to the same for removing letters and also to permit any letters which may be longer than the depth of the boxes and chutes to project beyond the same. For the purpose of strengthening the open front sides of the sections each section is connected along the upper portion of its front side by a cross piece or bar an which latter is arranged far enough from the back of the chutes to enable the largest letters which it is possible for the machine to handle to enter the chutes. The several pigeon holes or boxes are marked according to the destination of the letters which are delivered into the same and the keys at the key board controlling the releasing devices relating to the several boxes'are marked to correspond with the latter.

When this machine is used in distributing mail on railway trains and for other purposes it may be desirable to change the characters on the key board for distributing the letters to a different set of destinations. For this purpose the key board is loosely mounted on the key board frame which permits of removing the key board together with the keys mounted thereon and substituting another key board having a different set of characters. When the key board is changed the designations on the boxes must also be changed to correspond with the same. Inasmuch as the letters for local distribution are very numerous the key for the local letters is provided along the front of the key board with a wide finger piece which can be easily and conveniently manipulated and which is preferably marked City, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 7 and 15.

As the letters are carried around the rear sprocket wheels from the upper to the lower side of the carrier they are spread apart and while in this position they are postmarked by a canceling or printing device which is constructed as follows :-Y represents a standard arranged onthe rear portion of the main frame and y is a forwardly depending hanger which is provided with a longitudinal tubular crank y passingat an angle through a split socket y in the upper portion ofthe standard. y represents a solenoid magnet mounted on the hanger axially in line with the shank thereof and having its axially movable armature 3 provided on opposite sides with gear teeth y.

y represent two rock arms which, are pivoted to the hanger above and below the armature so as to swing in a vertical plane and each of which is provided with a gear segment y which meshes with the gear rack on the respective side of the armature. The pole piece y of the magnet is capable of longitudinal adjustment in the coil for varying the attraction of the magnet by screwing the pole into the shank of the arbor, the pole being held in its adjusted position by a clamping nut arranged thereon and bearing against the end of the shank. The upper rock arm is provided with a platen y and the lower rock arm is provided with a canceling die or stamp y. Upon energizing the canceling magnet its armature is drawn backwardly and the platen and die are swung toward each other against opposite sides of the letter which at this time is arranged in line or substantially in line with the axis of the armature and magnet. Upon breaking the circuit of the canceling magnet the armature is retracted and the arms carrying the platen and die are swung away so as to clear the path of the letter. The platen is preferably pivoted to its rock arm and connected therewith by a spring Y so as to permit the platen to adjust itself to the letters. The retraction of the die and platen is effected by a spring y which is interposed between the opposing ends of the pole piece and the armature of the canceling magnet coil. The retracting movement of the die and platen is limited by a stop arranged on the hanger and engaging with the rear side of the die arm. The canceling magnet is arranged in an electric circuit which includes the electric generator J and the two contacts j 7'' so that upon connecting and disconnecting the latter the canceling die and platen will be moved forward and backward.

If for any reason it is desirable not to cancel a letter, for instance, if the same has been previously canceled or the feed mechanism does not deliver a letter to the carr er the canceling device is rendered inoperat ve by the following means when the respective gripper reaches the canceling point.

3 1 represent two circuit opening contacts included in the electric circuit of the canceling magnet and arranged underneath the rear part of the upper portion of the carrier. These contacts are normally in engagement so that the circuit of the canceling magnet is complete and the latter in operative condition upon connecting the contacts j 7''. One of the circuit opening contacts, preferably the lower one 3 is provided with an inclinedor curved extension whlch is arranged so that it can be engaged by shifting fingers or contacts U. One of these shifting fingers is arranged on each of the from the pile into a gripper on the carrier the operator depresses the shifter finger U inthe cross bar n of the next following gripper and when this letter reaches the canceling point the depressed shifting finger engages with the lower contact 3 and separates the same from the upper contact y", whereby the canceler is prevented from being operated by the closing of the circuit between the contacts j 7'. During the next forward step of the carrier the shifting finger clears the circuit opening contact 3 and permits the same to spring back into engagement with its companion contact y, whereby the canceling circuit is reestablished at this point. The shifting finger U of any one of the cross bars n may be depressed into an operative position by a shifting lever V which is operated by a key marked in the same manner in which the letter distributing contacts U are depressed.

The key lever which depresses the noncanceling shifting finger U and the key lever which operates the secondary nixie contact corresponding to No. 1 on the key board are each provided on their undersides with a notch y arranged above the universal bar, as shown in Fig. 17, so that upon depressing either one of these keys the uni versal bar will not be depressed and the contacts j will not be connected, thereby avoiding feeding of a letter from the pile and propelling the carrier one step. When the die is retracted the face of the same is inked preparatory to cancelihg the next letter by means of an ink roller 2 which passes over the face of the die. The ink roller is mounted on the front arm of an elbow lever a which is secured to a rock shaft 2 journaled transversely on the lower portion of the hanger. The other arm of the elbow lever is provided with a projection or finger 2 which is arranged in rear of the die arm. 2 represents a depending retaining arm which is secured to the opposite end of the rock shaft and which has its free end con nected by a spring 2 with the upper portion of the hanger.

2 represents an ink supply roller which is journaled transversely upon the lower ortion of the hanger and with which the inking roller is adapted to engage intermittently for receiving a supply of ink. During the forward movement of the die it pushes the inking roller in contact with the same out of-its path and in doing so the elbow lever is turned sufficiently to shift the retaining arm from the front side of the axis of the rock shaft rearwardly beyond the dead center, whereby, the spring completes the turning movement of the rock shaft and connecting parts in the same direction and carries the inking roller into contact with the suppl roller. During the backward movement 0 the die arm the latter engages with the fin er on the upper arm of the elbow lever and returns the same and connecting parts until the retaining arm has been shifted forwardly in front of the dead center when the spring completes the movement in the same direction and shifts the inking roller into contact with the die. The inking roller is driven by a belt 2 assing around a pulley 2 on the shaft which carries the ink supplying roller and a pulley 2 journaled on the shank of the hanger. The pulley 2 is preferably formed in one piece with a larger pulley 2 which is driven from the main driving wheel E by a driving belt a" passing around a pulley 2 formed on the hub of the main driving wheel and around the pulley 2". As the pulleys .2 2" are arranged at right angles to the pulley of the inking roller and the driving wheel the intermediate portion of the belt .2 is supported by guide rollers a a journaled on the hanger and the intermediate portion of the belt 2 is supported by guide rollers z journaled on an arm .2 connected with the standard Y. The canceling mechanism may be adjusted toward and from the carrier to adapt it to different sizes of letters by shifting the shank of the hanger lengthwise in the socket of the standard which adjustment may be conveniently effected by means of a gear wheel 2 journaled in the standard and engaging with a gear rack a on the shank. By turning the hanger in the standard about its axis the canceling mechanism may be shifted so as to cancel either the front or the back side of the letter according to whether the machine is used at the sending or receiving post ofiice. This reversal is permitted by the arrangement of the driving mechanism of the ink supplying roller and also by forming annular gear rack teeth on the shank of the hanger for receiving the adjusting pinion. After the canceling mechanism has been shifted into the de' sired position it is firmly held in position by drawing the split portions of the standard socket against opposite sides of the hanger shank by means of a clamping screw.

In the operation of the machine the operator inspects each letter as it is brought to the front of the pile and then depresses the key corresponding with the destination of the letter. Upon depressing said key the contacts j y" are connected whereby said letter is fed from the pile into the adjacent gripper of the carriers and at the same time the proper contact U in the preceding cross bar n is depressed for opening the gripper when the latter arrives over the proper receptacle for which the letter is intended. Upon connecting the contacts 7' j by the depression of a key the circuit of the magnet is closed for operating the driving clutch and moving the carrier forward one step and the circuit of the canceler magnet is closed for canceling a preceding letter which is at the canceling point. The connection of the contacts j 7' also closes the circuits of all of the releasing magnets at this point so that if any of the circuits of the releasing magnets are individually closed by their contacts 6 being engaged by a carrier contact U such magnets will become energized and open their respective grippers for releasing the letters therein. The number of releasing magnets which are energized at one time depends upon the number of letters which arrive over the proper receptacle at the same time. It will thus be seen that the depression of a key lever causes the depression of a distributing contact U, the feeding of a letter from the feed table to the carrier, the forward movement of the carrier, the cancellation of a letter and the discharge of letters into their proper receptacles, to be effected simultaneously.

It will be noted that the suction cups 9 with their actuating mechanism constitute an initial feeder for the letters or other mail matter, while the rollers E, E constitute lettermoving means which receive the letters from said initial feeder and deliver them to the endless carrier.

\Vhen the machine is used for distributing mail which has been previously canceled the canceling mechanism may be rendered inoperative during such time by holding the circuit of the canceling magnet open.

An important advantage of this appa' ratus is its capacity to carry a plurality of letters at a time and to simultaneously discharge a plurality of them into the respective receptacles, regardless of their order on the endless carrier or conveyer. This multiple conveying and discharge of the letters greatly increases the speed of the machine over an apparatus in which the letters are carried and distributed singly or successively.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination with a series of receptacles, of a movable carrier for letters or other mail matter provided with holders which receive such matter successively, and selecting mechanism controlled by the operat'or whereby each holder is set to automatically release the matter which it contains at the entrance of the proper receptacle, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with a series of receptacles, of a movable carrier for letters or other mail matter provided with holders which receive such matter successively, selecting mechanism arranged on said carrier for causing each holder to release automatically the matter which it contains at the entrance of the proper receptacle, and

keys whereby each selecting mechanism can be set by the operator, substantially as set forth.

' 3. The combination with a series of receptacles, of a movable carrier for letters or other mail matter provided with holders which receive such matter successively, selecting mechanism arranged on sald carrier for causing each holder to release automatically the matter which it contains at the entranceof the proper receptacle, releasing mechanism actuated by said selecting mechanism, and keys whereby each selecting mechanism can be set by the operator, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination With a series of receptacles, of an endless carrier arranged over said receptacles and provided with holders for mail matter, a feeding device whereby such matter is fed successively to the holders on said carrier, selecting mechanism arranged on said carrier for causing each holder to release the matter automatically, releasing mechanism actuated by said selecting mechanisms as the holders move over the receptacles, and keys whereby each selecting mechanism can be set by the operator, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with a carrier provided with letter holding devices, of releasing mechanism whereby the holding devices are operated for releasing the letters, and keys whereby the operation of the releasing mechanism is controlled, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination with the horizontal feed table adapted to support a pile of letters, of an exhaust rock arm provided with an exhaust cup movable toward and from the front of the pile, a vertically movable support carrying said arm, a gear segment connected with said arm, and a vertically reciprocating shifting rod provided with a gear rack meshing with said segment, substantiallv as set forth.

7. The combination with the horizontal feed table adapted to support a pile of letters, of an exhaust rock arm provided with an exhaust cup movable toward and from the front of the pile, a vertically movable support carrying the rock arm, a gear segment connected with said arm, a vertically reciprocating shifting rod provided with a gear rack meshing with said segment, an electro-magnet which depresses said rod, and a spring which raises said rod, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination with the horizontal feed table adapted to support a pile of letters, of an exhaust rock arm provided with an exhaust cup movable toward and from the front of the pile, a vertically movable support carrying said arm, a gear segment connected with said arm, a vertically reciprocating shifting rod provided with a gear rack meshing with said segment, a catch which holds said support in. an elevated position, and a. releasing finger connected with the segment and adapted to disengage the catch from said support, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination with the horizontal feed table adapted to support a pile of letters. of a hollow, rock shaft provided with hollow exhaust arms and cups movable toward and from the front of said pile, a vertically movable support in which said shaft is journaled, a vertically reciprocating shifting rod provided with a gear rack which meshes with a gear segment onsaid shaft, an exhaust device connected with the hollow shaft by a conduit and a valve arranged in said conduit and connected with said shifting rod for controlling the suction of said cups, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination with the feed table adapted to support a pile of letters and the feed device whereby the letters are fed from the pile, of two feed rollers between which the letters are carried by the feed device, stationary bearings in which one of said rollers is journaled, movable bearings in which the other roller is journaled, and a retarding bar pivoted on the movable bearings substantially as set forth.

11. The combination with an endless link belt carrier provided with letter holding devices, of sprocket wheels around which said carrier passes, tubular rods connecting adjacent links of the carrier, shafts jour naled in said rods and provided with rollers, and tracks which are arranged between the sprocket wheels and over which said rollers run, substantially as set forth.

12. The combination with a carrier provided with letter holding devices, of contacts or fingers movable on said carrier and adapted to control the discharge of the letter holding devices, substantially as set forth.

13. The combination with a carrier provided with letter holding grippers, a feed mechanism whereby the letters are fed into said grippers, and receptacles into which the letters are discharged by the grippers, of an opening device which operates the grippers for receiving the letters from the feed mechanism, and an opening device which operates the grippers for discharging the letters from the grippers into said receptacles, substantially as set forth.

14. The combination with a carrier provided with letter holding grippers, of springs whereby said grippers are closed and electromagnets whereby the grippers are opened at different points in the movement of the carrier, substantially as set forth.

15. The combination with a. carrier, of letter holding grippers arranged on the carrier and each provided with a jaw which is immovable on the carrier and a jaw which is pivoted on the carrier, springs whereby the movable jaws of the grippers are pressed against the stationary jaws, armatures connected with the movable jaws, and stationary magnets having their poles arranged adjacent to the path of the armatures and adapted to attract the latter for opening the grippers, substantially as set forth.

16. The combination with a carrier provided with letter holding grippers, of stationary electro-magnets adapted to open said grippers, a stationary contact arranged in the circuit of each electro-magnet, and a movable contact also arranged in the circuit of each electromagnet and capable of being shifted on the carrier so as to engage said stationary contact, substantially as set forth.

17. The combination with a carrier provided with letter holding grippers, of stationary electromagnets adapted to open said grippers, a stationary contact arranged in the circuit of each electro-magnet, and a movable contact also arranged in the circuit of each electromagnet and having the form of a staple the legs of which slide in guide ways arranged on the carrier, substantially as set forth.

18. The combination with. a carrier provided with letter holding grippers and a row of receptacles arranged adjacent to the carrier for receiving the letters from the grippers, of gripper opening magnets each of which is capable of opening any one of the grippers when in line with a definite receptacle, a stationary contact included in the circuit of each magnet and arranged out of line with all of the stationary contacts in the circuits of the other magnets, and a transverse row of movable contacts arranged on the carrier for each gripper and also included in said circuits, each of the movable contacts capable of being shifted so as to engage with one of the stationary contacts for opening the respective gripper over one of the receptacles, substantially as set forth.

19. The combination with a carrier provided with letter holding grippers, of electromagnets adapted to open said grippers, a stationary contact arranged in the circuit of each electro-magnet, a movable contact also arranged in the circuit of each electromagnet and capable of being shifted out of its normal position so as to engage with said stationary contact, and a returning rod whereby the movable contacts are returned to their normal position in the carrier, substantially as set forth.

20. The combination with a carrier provided with letter holding grippers and a row of receptacles arranged adjacent to the carrier for receiving the letters from the grippers, of gripper opening magnets each of which is capable of opening any one of the grippers when in line with a definite recepi upright series below said carrier and havtacle, a stationary contact included in the circuit of each magnet and arranged out of line with all of the stationary contacts in the circuits of the otheremagnets, a transverse row of movable contacts arranged on the carrier for each gripper and also included in said circuits, each of the movable contacts capable of being shifted so as to engage with one of the stationary contacts for opening the respective gripper over one of the re ceptacles, contact shifting levers each of which is capable of shifting a definite contact in each row on the carrier into an operative position, keys connected with said shifting levers, wheels around which said carrier passes and returning bars which are mounted on said wheels and whereby the movable contacts are shifted into an inoperative position, substantially as set forth.

21. The combination with a carrier provided with letter holding grippers and with movable contacts whereby the opening of said grippers is controlled, of key levers by which the contacts are shifted, keys engaging loosely with said key levers, and a movable key board supporting said keys, substantially as set forth.

22. The combination with the carrier provided with letter holding devices, of a driving shaft consisting of a constantly rotating section and an intermittently rotating section which is geared with the carrier, cooperating frietion disks connected respectively with the shaft sections, and a stationary electromagnet whereby the shaft sections are shifted lengthwise with reference to each other for engaging the friction disks, substantially as set forth.

23. The combination with a carrier provided with letter holding devices, of a driving shaft which makes one rotation during each forward step of the carrier and which consists of a constantly rotating section and an intermittently rotating section geared with the carrier, an electro-magnetic clutch which couples and uncouples the shaft sections, a switch controlling the clutch magnet, an electromagnet having an armature which is connected with said switch, and a cam wheel secured to the intermittently rotating shaft section and engaging with said armature, substantially as set forth.

24. The combination of letter conveying mechanism, a plurality of receptacles arranged in an upright series below said conveying mechanism, and independent chutes or passages each leading to one of said receptacles and having their inlet ends arranged to receive the pieces of mail matter fromthe conveying mechanism, substantially as set forth.

25. The combination with a letter carrier, of a number of receptacles arranged in an ing their inlets arranged in a row lengthwise of the carrier, substantially as set forth.

26. The combination with a letter carrier, 7

of a number of receptacles arranged in an upright series below the carrier each receptacle overhanging the next lower receptacle and chutes having their outlets connected with said receptacles and having their inlets arranged in a row lengthwise of the carrier, substantially as set forth.

2?. The combination with a letter carrier,

of a number of receptacles arranged in an upright series below the carrier and each receptacle having an inlet in its top adjacent to one of its walls while its opposite wall inclines toward said inlet, a series of chutes arranged with their inlets in a row lengthwise of the carrier and having their outlets opening into the inlets of the rece tacles, and deflecting plates arranged in tl ie receptacles adjacent to the inlets thereof, substantially as set forth.

28. The combination with a letter carrier, of a canceling stamp and platen having a movement toward and from each other for canceling the letters successively in said carrier, and a pivoted support carrying said stamp and platen and capable of adjustment about its axis for engaging the stamp and platen with either side of the letters, substantially as set forth.

29. The combination with a letter carrier, of two rock arms provided respectively, with a canceling stamp and a platen, and actuating mechanism connected with the rock arms whereby the platen and stamp are moved toward and from each other for successively canceling the letters in the carrier, substan, tially as set forth.

30. The combination with a letter carrier, of two rock arms provided respectively with a canceling stamp and a platen and two reciprocating gear racks meshing respectively with gear segments on said arms, substantially as set forth.

. 31. The combination with a letter carrier, of two rock arms provided respectively with a canceling stamp and a platen, two reciprocating gear racks meshing respectively with gear segments on said arms, and an electromagnet having its armature connected with said gear racks, substantially as set forth.

32. The combination with a letter carrier, of two rock arms provided respectively, with a canceling stamp and a'platen, an ink supply roller, an inking roller adapted to engage alternately with the supply roller and the stamp, an elbow lever carrying the inking roller on one of its arms while its other arm is adapted to be engaged by the stamp carrying rock arm, and a sprin whereby the elbow lever is yieldingly held in its extreme positions, substantially as set forth.

' boxes or receptacles,

33. The combination with a letter carrier and a letter canceling mechanism arranged adjacent to the carrier, of a hanger supporting said canceling mechanism and provided with a shank which is capable of rotary and longitudinal adjustment in a standard, and an adjusting pinion journaled in the standard and meshing with an annular gear rack on the shank of the hanger, substantially as set forth.

3%. In a mail distributing machine, the combination of a series-of receptacles having a series of upwardly extending letter passages communicating with said receptacles, and letter moving and directing and controlling mechanism.

In a mail distributing machine, the combination of. a series of boxes having openings in their upper portions, mechanism for depositing letters in said receptacles through said openings, and controlling means acting on said mechanism, and thereby determining the particular box in which each piece of mail matter is deposited.

36. A mail distributing apparatus comprising a ter to be distributed, an initial feeder which receives the pieces of matter successively from said stack, mail receptacles having passages leading thereto, and a letter conveying and directing mechanism which receives the pieces of mail matter from said initial feeder and delivers the same to said passages.

37 A mail sorting or distributing apparatus comprising series of boxes or rece tacles having passages thereto, a receptac e or carrier for the common pile or bundle of letters to be distributed to various boxes, conveying and letter controlling devices for carrying the letters successivel from said pile and directing them to the oxes, printing mechanism actin on each letter in transit, and series 0 controlling mechanisms corresponding to and indicating the various boxes and controlling said devices to pass, each letter to a box indicated by the particular controlling mechanism actuated,

substantially as set forth.

38. A mail sorting or distributing apparatus, wherein the letters are successively taken from a common source andniarked and distributed in various predetermined comprising series of boxes or receptacles, series of controlling devices, such as key levers, corresponding to or indicating said boxes respectively, letter conveying and directing mechanisms receiving the letters from said common source and directing the same individually to predetermined boxes, said mechanisms opera tively connected to said controlling devices and controlled thereby to direct each letter to the box indicated by the particular consupport for the stack of mail matthe boxes, respectively,

trolling device moved by the operator, and letter marking mechanism, substantially as set forth.

39. A mail sorting or distributing apparatus comprising a carrier, holder or receptacle constructed and arranged to successively display the addressed face of each letter of a common pile of mixed letters to the view of the operator, printing mechanism, and letter moving and distributing mechanism, and controlling means, substantially as set forth.

40. A mail sorting or distributing apparatus arranged to distribute individual pieces of mail matter from a common source or pile into various predetermined boxes or receptacles, comprising a holder or receptacle receiving the common pile of mixed faced up pieces of mail matter constructed and arranged to successively expose the addressed of mail matter to the view of the operator, and mechanisms for successively moving and printing the individual pieces of mail matter and directing the same to predetermined boxes, substantially as set forth.

41. An apparatus for distributing individual pieces of mail matter from a common source into predetermined individual receptacles or boxes of a series, comprising a holder or receptacle receiving a common pile or bundle of faced pieces of matter constructed and arranged to successively expose the addressed face of each piece to the view of the operator, printing mechanism, feeding mechanism to take the letters successively from said pile for marking, and letter conveying and directing mechanisms to deliver the marked letters at various predetermined points of delivery, substantially as set forth.

42. In combination, series of boxes or receptacles, a carrier or support for a mixed common pile of pieces of mail matter, printing mechanism, letter moving and directing mechanisms, actuating mechanisms, and a series of controlling mechanisms, such as key levers, corresponding to and indicating said carrier constructed to successively expose the addressed face of each piece of mail matter in the common pile to the view of the operator, the series of controlling mechanisms arranged adjacent to said pile and within convenient view and reach of the same operator, substantially as set forth.

43. In an'apparatus for distributing individual pieces of mail matter from a common source into predetermined boxes or receptacles of a case or series, a letter marking mechanism, supporting mechanism successively exposing the addressed face of each piece of mail matter to the view of the operator, letter moving and directing mechaface of each piece nism, and series of manually operated controlling mechanisms corresponding to the respective boxes and determining the box to which each letter is directed, substantially as set forth.

44. In an apparatus of the character set forth, mechanism for disclosing the addressed face of each piece of mail matter to the view of the operator, letter distributing mechanisms for depositing the letters each in a predetermined receptacle, and mail marking mechanism, substantially as set forth.

45. In an apparatus of the character described, series of boxes, series of controlling devices ,corresponding to and indicating the boxes, respectively, and letter printing, moving and directing mechanisms, controlled by said devices, substantially as set forth.

46. In an apparatus of the character described, a case of letter boxes or receptacles having series of upwardly-extending letter passages communicating with the boxes, and letter printing, moving and directing, and controlling mechanisms, substantially as set forth.

47. In an apparatus of the character described, a. case or series of boxes or receptacles for mail matter, series of branch or box letter passages opening into said boxes, mechanism for marking each letter in transit, and means for feeding letters into any one of said passages, and controlling mechanism to cause discharge of each letter into any predetermined passage, substantially as set forth.

48. In an apparatus of the character described, mail marking means, a case or series of boxes or receptacles, in combination with letter sorting, conveying and directing mechanisms, constructed and arranged to deposit individual pieces of mail matter in predetermined boxes, substantially as set forth.

49. A mail distributing apparatus com prising letter conveying, moving and directing mechanisms constructed and arranged to take the individual pieces of mail matter from a common source and distribute them to various predetermined points, means to mark each letter while in the transit, and controlling means acting on said mechanisms to determine the particular point to which each piece of mail matter is delivered, substantially as set forth.

50. A mail distributing apparatus, comprising letter moving and directing or guiding mechanisms, constructed and arranged to take the pieces of mail matter individually from a common source and deposit them individually at various points, a mail marker, and series of controlling mechanisms for the said mechanisms and determining the particular delivery point or location of each piece of mail matter, substantially as set forth.

51. The combination with letter printin moving and controlling mechanisms, and means for individually distributing the letters, of a case or series of boxes having letter passages opening thereinto, substantially as set forth.

The combination with a case or series of boxes having letter passages thereto, of means for individually distributing mail matter, a main letter conveyer common to all of said passages, printing means and directing means, substantially as set forth.

In combination, letter moving and controlling mecehanisms, a mail marker, said mechanisms constructed and arranged to successively take individual pieces of mail matter from a common source, subject each to the mail marker, and distribute the same to various points or locations, and a series of key levers, indicating the various points of distribution, each acting on said mechanisms and predetermining the destination of each piece of mail matter, substantially as set forth. i

54. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of driving means. printing means, letter moving and directing mechanisms, arranged to take the letters successively from a common source and distribute the same in various boxes or receptacles, and series of key levers. each connected to throw letter moving mechanisms into gear with the driving means, said levers controlling said mechanisms, and determin ing the particular boxes to which the respective pieces of mail matter are guided or directed, substantially as set forth.

55. In combination, a mail marking mechanism receiving the pieces of mail matter successively, a letter mover or conveyer, branch letter passages provided with letter boxes and means for individuallv distributing said mail matter, substantially as set forth.

56. In an apparatus of the character described, series of boxes for the letters, letter moving or conveying means, letter directing means to deliver each letter into a predetermined box, a bank or series of key levers arranged at the front of the machine and connected with and controlling said directing means, and all connected with and controlling the actuating means of the machine, substantially as set forth.

57. In an apparatus of the character described, means for individually sorting pieces of mail matter, series of boxes and letter passages opening into the boxes, and means for dropping a letter into any passage through which it drops by gravity, into a box, substantially as set forth. 

